Sewing machine work support including an improved quick opening needle plate and cover plate arrangement



Dec. 5, 1961 TOSHIO FUJITA 3,011,463

SEWING MACHINE WORK SUPPORT INCLUDING AN IMPROVED QUICK OPENING NEEDLE PLATE AND COVER PLATE ARRANGEMENT Filed March 6, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fl Y a m Q fl WW7 4/ fwma 'j'; w

TOSHIO FUJITA 3,011,463

Dec. 5, 1961 SEWING MACHINE WORK SUPPORT INCLUDING AN IMPROVED QUICK OPENING NEEDLE PLATE AND COVER PLATE ARRANGEMENT Filed March 6, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I WW Dec. 5, 1961 TOSHIO FUJITA SEWING MACHINE WORK SUPPORT INCLUDING AN IMPROVED QUICK OPENING NEEDLE PLATE AND COVER PLATE ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 6, 1959 Unite The present invention relates broadly to the-art of sewing machine and more particularly this invention relates to a work support or bed plate arrangement including an improved quick opening needle or throat plate and cover plate arrangement.

conventionally, sewing machines are provided with an opening in the bed plate or workrsupport which accommodates a needle or throat plate having openings therein underlying the needle bar and presser foot for accommodating feed dogs and the reciprocating movements of the needle. Since the bobbin underlies the work support and it is frequently necessary to replace the bobbin, some conventional sewing machine work supports include a slide cover plate that is next adjacent the aforementioned needle plate and can be slid to open position to expose an opening permitting access to the bobbin for replacement or to the other parts of the machine that are beneath the work support for the purposes of cleaning or lubrication. v

In addition, it sometimes becomes necessary to detach or replace the needle or throat plate.

States Patent Accordingly, the present invention has for an object to provide an improved work support or bed plate construction for a sewing machine which includes a readily removable needle or throat-plate in association with an access opening and in which means are provided to fa cilitate the attachment and detachment of the needle plate relative to the bed plate.

Specifically,'the invention has for an object to provide an improved sewing machine bed plate construction incorporating an enlarged access window or opening in the bed plate and a closure for such opening which includes a needle plate structure and a cover plate structure together with push button operated means for facilitating the ready removal and replacement of the needle plate and the quick openingof the cover plate.

Further and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichi FIGURE 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in transverse section on line 11 of FIGURE 2- and illustrating a sewing machine incorporating the improved bed plate. structure of this invention,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of that part of the bed plate of the sewing machine and illustrating the structure and relationship of the needle plate and cover plateof the present invention, 7

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the cover plate structure shown in FIGURE. 1 in open position,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale illustrating the needle plate in closed condition and further showing the push button operated means for controlling the removal and replacement of such needle plate structure, j p

FIGURE 5 is an exploded View in perspective illusmodates a push button device.

trating certain component parts of the structure shown in back side of the base plate with the cover plate hinged. thereon.

FIGURE 8 is an inclined plane view illustrating the button lever structure of the cover plate.

In connection with the drawing, since the invention is directed to the structural relationship of the bed plate or Work support and has particular reference to the needle and cover plate constructions, the sewing machine has been illustrated only diagrammatically and the details and construction of the shuttle, bobbin, work feed arrangement and the drives therefore are not shown since these are conventional components.

With reference to FIGURE 1, the sewing machine illustrated includes a hollow upright or standard 2 and an overhanging sewing arm 1, at the outer end of which is associated the presser foot 4 and needle bar 5. The work support or bed plate 3 extends from the hollow standard 2 outwards and beyond the needle bar structure. The bed plate or work support 3 has an access opening 7 provided therein beneath the presser foot 4 and needle bar 5. This access opening 7 is round and is of such size as to completely embrace the needle plate 6 and cover plate 26, as well as a filler or partial base plate 8. The invention is not to be restricted to the opening being round but it must have such shape as will accommodate at least the needle plate and cover plate. As is conventional in sewing machines, the needle plate 6 is located immediately beneath the needle bar 5 and presser foot 4. In the illustrated form of this invention this needle plate is to be removably fixed to the base plate 8. Accordingly, the invention includes the partial filler or base plate 8 constituting a first plate member, which is of segmental shape and has an arcuate cut-out or recess therein, to accommodate, a part of the periphery of the needle plate 66. The opening 7 has an inwardly extending flange 7' and the base plate 8 has a shoulder that rests on this flange and is suitably removably fastened to the bed plate 3. The arcuate recess 9 in the base plate 8 accommodates a part of the periphery of the needle plate 6 and has a depth equal to approximately one-half of the thickness of the needle plate 6. An in ternally threaded screw receiving boss 10 is provided ad jacent the perimeter of the opening 9 for accommodating a flat headed cap screw 11. The size of the head 12 of this screw 11 is such thatapart of the head will overlap the edge'of recess 9 and when the screw is inserted there is a space 13 that exists between the undersurface of the head 12 of the screw 11 and the upper surface of the plate 8 within the confines of the recess 9 and on which the needle plate 6 rests. The head 12 of screw 11 constitutes needle plate holding means adjacent the periphery of the recess '9 that is cooperable with afirst portion of the needle plate 6 for holding the said portion. within the recess. Thus, needle plate 6 is provided with an arcuate recess in the top thereof that extends to a depth slightly in excess of one-half the thickness of the needle plate, so as to leave at said, first portion of the needle plate a reduced edge portion 22.thatcan fit beneath the head 12 of'the screw11. Y p s Oppositethe location .of the. boss 10 that accommodates screw 11 is a further depending boss 14 that accorn The. aperture in this boss-is formedalongthe arcuate line that delimits the recess ,9. The. pushwbuttomdevice includes a tubular body 15 having an outwardly projecting flange 16 so that when body 15 is inserted through boss 14 from beneath the floor plate 8, the flange 16 bears against the lower surfaceof the boss 14. The top of this tubular member is slotted and an inverted T-shaped flat metal piece' is inserted into the tubular member; The laterally extending wings 18 of this metal piece17- are supported in notches provided in the flange 16, and a spring metal plate 221 that is fixed to a bracket, depending from beneath the bed plate 3 yieldingly urges the flat metal piece 17 to its uppermost position. This spring metal plate 21 has a depression 21 therein that accommodates a rounded protuberance -17 on said metal piece 17. The end of the fiat metal piece 17 is provided with a shaped nose or beak 20 that is accommodated in the groove or slot 19 formed in the top of the tubular member or body 15. This beak or nose 20 is so shaped that when the fiat metal piece 17 is in its uppermost position, the slanted edge of this beak projects laterally beyond the periphery of the tubular body 15. For cooperation with this slanted edge of the beak or nose 20 the needle plate, at a position opposite the reduced edge portion 22, is provided with an arcuate cutout, or incision, the edge of which is bevelled to present angled or inclined upper and lower surfaces 24 and 23 respectively.

In inserting a needle plate, with the screw 11 in place, the reduced portion 22 of the needle plate is slid into the space 13, and when the needle plate is lowered, the inclined surface 23 will engage the top of the beak or nose 2% above the slanted under-surface thereof. Then, this beak is depressed by hand or alternatively the needle plate is pushed down and by reaction between the bevelled surface 23 and the top of the beak 20, the metal piece 17 will depress spring 21 and will also rock or move laterally away from the incision in the needle plate until the incision passes over the edge of the beak 20 and the needle plate will assume a supported position within the recess 9. At this time, due to the action of spring 21, the metal piece 17 is restored to its original position and the slanted undersurface of the beak 2% will engage the upper bevelled surface 24 of the incision so as to hold the needle plate in position.

To remove the needle plate the tubular body of the push button mechanism is depressed against the action of spring 21 and in so doing the reaction between the bevelled surface 24 of the needle plate and the slanted undersurface of the beak or nose 2@ will cause the latter to move laterally away from the needle plate until the beak passes beneath the needle plate, whereupon the finger that has been depressing the tubular body is removed and the spring plate 21 will raise the tubular body and metal piece 17 upwards and in so doing the tip of the nose or beak will engage beneath the inclined surface 23 and lift the needle plate upwards permitting ready removal thereof.

It is clear, therefore, that one aspect of the invention includes a needle plate holding and releasing means incorporating a push button type device normally biased to an operative needle plate holding position and having a movable component incorporating a camming surface for cooperating with upper and lower camming surfaces on the needle plate.

In addition to accommodating the filler or base plate 8 and needle plate 6 and as described previously, the window or access opening 7 accommodates a cover plate 26. The needle plate is carried in a recess in the segmental base plate 8 and this base plate 8 further includes com ponents in operative connection with the cover plate. The cover plate 26 isshaped to close the remainder of the access opening 7 and also includes an arcuate recess that accommodates that part of the periphery of the needle plate 6 that extends beyond the periphery of filler plate 8. On the under-surface of this cover plate 26 and at laterally spaced positions are provided depending, generally triangulated, bracket members 27 having pin accommodating apertures therein. Secured to the undersurface of base plate 8 are a pair of depending bracket members 25, likewise arranged in laterally spaced, transversely aligned relation. Pin means 28 passing through the apertures in the bracket members 27 are accommodated in apertures in the bracket members so that the cover plate is effectively hinged to the base plate 8. Also secured to one of the bracket members 27 is one end of a spring accommodating member 29. This member 29 is in the form of a flat piece of metal having a shoulder adjacent thatend which is connected to the bracket means 27 by the screw 30. The opposite end of this spring accommodating member 29 includes a laterally offset lug 29. In assembling these components, the spring accommodating member 29 is inserted through an aperture in a depending bracket 31, the upper leg of which supports the spring plate 21. A steel coil spring 32 is associated with the member 29 between the shoulder therein and the depending bracket 31, whereupon the inner end of the member 29 is connected to the bracket member 27 by screw 30.' This spring 32 normally biases the cover plate 26 to open position. Thus, when the cover plate 26 is moved from the position of FIGURE 3 to that shown in FIGURE 1, spring 32 is compressed and the lefthand end of the member 29 extends beyond the bracket 31.

As also shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the undersurface.

of the cover plate 26, at a position intermediate and opposite the hinged connections, is provided with a depending notched keeper plate 33. The bed plate '3 is provided with an arcuate cut-out 36 that accommodates one end of a pivoted detent lever 34. This detent lever is of flat metal and generally angle shaped in plan. At its approximate midpoint, it is pivotally connected to the bed plate by a screw means 35. One arm of this lever is bent upwardly and inwardly to define a push button end 37 that fits in the cut-out or notch 36 in the bed plate 3. The opposite arm of this leveris provided with a nose or detent portion 39 that cooperates with the notch in the keeper plate 33. An abutment 40 is also secured to the bed plate 3 for cooperation with an extension 41 on the inner end of the lever 34 to limit the inward swinging movement of the detent accommodating end of the lever. A steel wire spring 38 normally biases the lever 34 to the position shown in FIGURE 2 wherein the cover plate is held closed by the cooperation of the detent 39 with the notch in the keeper 33. Also, as shown in FIGURE 2, the notch or recess 36 in the bed plate 33 is larger than the inturned push button forming end 3-7 of the lever 34.

In utilization of the cover plate controlling mechanism, for example, for replacing the bobbin (not shown) which is normally mounted beneath the bed plate, the push button end 37 is moved inwardly, whereupon the lever will turn on the axis of screw 35 and move the detent 39 out of the notch 33. As soon as the detent is removed, the force of coil spring 32 will open the cover plate, thus exposing the major portion of the access opening 7. After the bobbin has been replaced, the cover plate is depressed and in so doing, the inclined edge 33 of the keeper- 33 will cam the lever 34 outwards against the action of spring 38 until the detent 39 is opposite the notch in the keeper plate 33, whereupon the spring 38 will move the lever 34 inwards so that detent 39 will engage in the notch in keeper 33 to hold the cover plate 26 in closed position.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sewing machine a work support structure including a bed plate having an enlarged access opening therein, a plate means at least partially covering said opening, said plate means having a recess therein, a needle .plate, the edge of the recess and the periphery of the needle plate being so related in shape that the needle plate is accommodated within the recess, needle plate holding means' adjacent the periphery of the recess and cooperable with a first portion of the needle plate for holding said portion of the needle plate within the recess, said plate means having an aperture therethrough at a location opposite said needle plate holding means, an apertured boss depending beneath said plate means with the aperture thereof defining said aperture through the plate means, said boss terminating in a bottom edge, a push button device including a tubular body havingv a slot in one end thereofand a lateral flange at the opposite end,

said tubular body being disposed within the aperture in the boss with the lateral flange of the tubular body engaging the bottom edge of the boss, a shaped plate member disposed within said tubular body and including a lower portion having lateral extensions bearing against the under-surface of said lateral flange, said shaped plate member including an upper portion having a beaked end projecting laterally of the slot in the tubular body and beyond the portion of the periphery of said body that projects above said plate means, said beaked end engaging an edge portion of the needle plate and spring means normally holding said shaped metal member against said flange and said flange against said boss to releasably hold the needle plate in position.

2. In a sewing machine as claimed in claim 1 and the periphery of the needle plate having a recess therein accommodating a portion of the periphery of said tubular body, and said recess having angled upper and lower surfaces respectively sloping downwardly and upwardly for cooperation with the beaked end of said shaped plate member whereby said beaked end engages said upper surface to releasably hold said needle plate in position and upon depression of said push button device, said bea ked end moves laterally in one direction to disengage said upper surface and laterally in the opposite direction to engage beneath said lower surface so that upon release of said push button device said beaked end raises said needle plate to facilitate removal thereof.

3. In a sewing machine including a sewing arm having a needle bar and presser foot operatively associated therewith and dependent therefrom, a work support structure including a bed plate having an access opening therein extending over a substantial area of the bed plate beneath said needle bar and presser foot, closure means for the opening including a first plate member having a portion of its periphery lying Within the opening and having a recess associated with a peripheral portion that extends across the opening, a needle plate accommodated within i said recess and having a portion of its periphery extending beyond said peripheral portion of the first plate member, said needle plate directly underlying said presser foot and needle bar, a cover plate for the remainder of the opening, said cover plate having a recess in its periphery surrounding'said portion of the needle plate, means hingedly connecting the cover plate to said first plate member, and needle plate holding means releasably connecting said needle plate to' the first plate member whereby either of said needle plate or said cover plate can be moved relative to said opening and to said first plate member independently of one another. 7

4. In a sewing machine including a sewing arm having a needle bar and presser foot operatively associated therewith and dependent therefrom, a work support structure including a bed plate having an access opening therein extending over a substantial area of the bed plate beneath said needle bar and presser foot, closure means for the opening including a first plate member having a portion of its periphery lying within the opening and having a recess associated with a peripheral portion that extends across the opening, a needle plate accommodated within said recess and having a portion of its periphery extending beyond said peripheral portion of the first plate member, said needle plate directly underlying said presser foot and needle bar, a cover plate for the remainder of the opening, said cover plate having a recess in its periphery surrounding said portion of the needle plate, means hingedly connecting the cover plate to said first plate member, needle plate holding means releasably connecting said needle plate to the first plate member whereby either of said needle plate or said cover plate can be moved relative to said opening and to said first plate member independently of one another, said needle plate holding means being adjacent the periphery of the recess and cooperable with a portion of the needle plate for holding said last mentioned portion of the needle plate within the recess, said first plate member having an aperture therethrough at a location opposite said needle plate holding means and a push button device operably assoclated within said aperture and including a component engageable with the needle plate to releasably hold the needleplate in position.

SI In a sewing machine including a sewing arm having a needle bar and presser foot operatively associated therewith and dependent therefrom, a work support structure including a bed plate having an access opening therein extending over a substantial area of the bed plate beneath said needle bar and presser foot, closure means for the opening including a first plate member having a portion of its periphery lying within the opening and having a recess associated with a peripheral portion that extends across the opening, a needle plate accommodatedwithln said recess and having a portion of its periphery extending beyond said peripheral portion of the first plate member, said needle plate directly underlying said presser I foot and needle bar, a cover plate for the remainder of the opening, said cover plate having a recess in its periphery surrounding said portion of the needle plate, means hingedly connecting the cover plate to said first plate member, needle plate holding means adjacent the periphery of the recess and cooperable with a portion of the needle plate for holding said portion of the needle plate within the recess, said first plate member having an aperture therethrough at a location opposite said needle plate holding means and a push button device operably associated, Within said aperture and including a component engageahle with the needle plate to releasably hold the needle plate in position, an apertured boss depending beneath said first plate member with the aperture thereof defining said aperture throughthe'first plate member, said boss terminating in a bottom edge said push button device including atubular body having a slot in one end thereof and a lateral flange at the opposite end, said tubular body being disposed within the aperture in the boss with the lateral flange of the tubular body engaging the bottom edge of the boss, a shaped plate member disposed Within said body and including a lower portion having lateral extensions bearing against the undersuuf-ace of said flange and an upper portion having a beaked end projec-ting laterally of the slot in the tubular body and beyond the portion of the periphery of said body that projects above said first plate member, said beaked end engaging the edge of the needle plate, spring means normally holding said shaped metal member against said flange and said flange against said boss, the periphery of the needle plate having a recess therein accommodating a portion of the periphery of said tubular body, and said recess having angled upper and lower surfaces respectively sloping downwardly and upwardly for cooperation with the beaked end of said shaped plate member whereby said beaked end engages said upper surface to releasably hold said needle plate in position and upon depression of said push button device, said beaked end *moves laterally in one direction to disengage said upper surface and laterally in the opposite direction to engage beneath said lower surface so that upon release'of said push button device said beaked end raises said needle plate to facilitate removal thereof.

6. In a sewing machine including a sewing arm having a needle bar and presser foot operatively associated therewith and dependent therefrom, a work support structure including a bed plate having an access opening therein extending over a substantial area of the bed plate beneath said needle bar and presser foot, closure means for the opening including a first plate member having a portion of its periphery lying within the opening and having a I recess associated with a peripheral portion that extends across the opening, a needle plate accommodated within said recess and having a portion of its periphery extending beyond said peripheral portion of the first plate member, said needle plate directly underlying said presser foot and needle bar, a cover plate for the remainder of the opening, said cover plate having a recess in its periphery surrounding said portion of the needle plate, means hingedly connecting the cover plate to said first plate member, needle plate holding means releasably connecting said needle plate to the first plate member whereby either of said needle plate or said cover plate can be moved relative to said opening and to said first plate member independently of one another, the means releasably connecting said needle plate to said first plate member including a needle plate engaging means cooperable with one portion of the periphery of the needle plate and a push button device including a component movable relative to and cooperable with an opposite portion of the periphery of the needle plate for releasably holding the needle plate relative to said first plate member.

7. In a sewing machine including a sewing arm having a needle bar and presser foot operatively associated therewith and dependent therefor, a work support structure including a bed plate having an access opening therein extending over a substantial area of the bed plate beneath said needle bar and presser foot, closure means for the opening including a first plate member having a portion of its periphery lying within the opening and having a recess associated with a peripheral portion that extends across the opening, a needle plate accommodated within said recess and having a portion of its periphery extending beyond said peripheral portion of the first'plate member, said needle plate directly underlying said presser foot and needle bar, a cover plate for the remainder of the opening, said cover plate having a recess in its periphery surrounding said portion of the needle plate, means hingedly connecting the cover plate to said first plate member, needle plate holding means releasably connecting said needle plate to the first plate member whereby either of said needle plate or said cover plate can be moved relative to said opening and to said first plate member independently of one another, spring means operatively related with said cover plate and normally urging the same to open position and a push button operated latch means cooperable with said cover plate for securing the same in closed position.

8. In a sewing machine including a sewing arm having a needle bar and presser foot operatively associated therewith and dependent'therefrom, a work support structure including a bed plate having an access opening therein extending over a substantial area of the bed plate beneath said needle bar and presser foot, closure means for the opening including a first plate member having a portion of its periphery lying within the opening and having a recess associated with a peripheral portion that extends across the opening, a needle plate accommodated within said recess and having a portion of its periphery extending beyond said peripheral portion of the first plate member, said needle plate directly underlying said presser foot and needle bar, a cover plate for the remainder of the opening, said cover plate having a recess in its periphery surrounding said portion of the needle plate, means hingedly connecting the cover plate to said first plate member, needle plate holding means releasably connecting said needle plate to the first p late member whereby either of said needle plate or said cover plate can be moved relative to said opening and to said first .plate member independently of one another, the means releasably connecting said needle plate to said first plate including a needle plate engaging means cooperable with one portion of'the periphery of the needle plate, a push button device including a component movable relative to and cooperable with an opposite portion of the periphery of the needle plate for releasably holding the needle plate relative to said first plate, spring actuated means operatively related with said cover plate and normally urging the same to open position and a push button operated latch means cooperable with said cover plate for securing the same in closed position. v

9. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 8 in which said push button device includes a spring member, a bracket depending beneath said bed plate, securing means connected to said bracket for supporting said spring member and said spring actuated'means including a componen-t movably coupled to said securing means.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

